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Ashford · Kent

Extension pulling away repairs in Ashford

The ground under Ashford and Kent varies street by street, and extensions built on shallower footings feel those differences first. A trial pit and a drain survey usually tell an engineer how the extension’s foundation is coping.

Guide price from£670per junction inc VAT

Rear brick extension with a tapered crack at the joint with the house
Postcodes
TN23, TN24
Population
about 63,000
Area
Kent
Pricing region
South East

Why does the ground in Kent matter for extension pulling away repairs?

We cover Ashford and its postcode districts TN23, TN24, part of Kent, with a population of roughly 63,000. Nearby places we cover include Faversham (12 miles), Canterbury (13 miles) and Folkestone (13 miles).

Shrinkable clay is widespread in Kent. Parts of Kent lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Housing stock in Kent: Victorian terraces in the Medway towns, weatherboarded and Wealden houses, 1930s semis and seaside bungalows.

Is it time for extension pulling away repairs? Common signs

  • Daylight or draughts showing through the internal corner joint
  • Patio doors or windows in the extension starting to bind
  • A vertical crack or gap where the extension meets the house

What should you budget for extension pulling away repairs in Ashford?

These are guide prices for Ashford, using South East rates and including VAT. Your written quote follows photos or a survey, and is fixed once the repair is specified.

Guide prices inc VAT on South East rates. Items marked est. are our estimates.
ItemGuide pricePer
Junction crack repair with stainless tiesest.£670 – £2,250per junction
Movement joint and making goodest.£450 – £1,350per junction
Underpinning the extension where needed£1,100 – £2,800per metre of wall

Repair options we may recommend

Movement joint and making good

Where some seasonal movement is expected to continue, the junction is formed into a proper flexible movement joint with a compressible filler and sealant, so the two parts can move without cracking. Flashings and internal finishes are detailed to suit.

Best for: Minor ongoing movement that does not threaten the structure

Underpinning the extension

If the extension is still dropping because its footings are too shallow or on poor ground, they are taken deeper by mass concrete, beam-and-base or mini-piles. The engineer designs the scheme, and the junction is repaired once the new foundation is in.

Best for: Active movement from shallow footings, roots or soft ground

What to expect when we carry out extension pulling away repairs

  1. Show us the junction

    Send photos of the crack outside, the internal corner and any flashing above, with a measure for scale. We give a free initial assessment and an initial view on whether the gap is likely old or still opening.

  2. Choose the fix

    The engineer decides between ties, a movement joint or underpinning. We confirm a fixed price in writing once the repair is specified, covering the junction, flashings, internal finishes and any foundation work.

  3. Repair the junction

    Drains are repaired first if they are leaking. The joint is then tied, formed as a movement joint or rebuilt after underpinning, with roof flashings reset so the junction stays watertight. Building control is handled where needed.

Rules for extension pulling away repairs in England

In England, underpinning and other work that alters or strengthens a wall or foundation is building work under the Building Regulations (Part A, structure), so building control approves and inspects it. Like-for-like repairs often are not, and we tell you which applies before a price is agreed. Work to a party wall, or excavation close to a neighbour’s foundations, can also need a notice under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.

Your extension pulling away repairs questions

How much should I budget for extension pulling away repairs in Ashford?

Guide prices for extension pulling away repairs in Ashford start from about £670 per junction, including VAT, on South East rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.

Can you survey a property in Ashford?

Yes, Ashford is covered, along with postcode districts TN23, TN24. We also cover nearby Faversham and Canterbury.

Why do houses in Kent crack?

North Kent sits on London Clay, central Kent on Gault and Weald Clays and the Downs on chalk, so shrinkable clay is widespread. East Kent around Deal and Dover had a small deep coalfield, worked until the late 1980s. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.

Can a drain under my extension cause it to move?

Yes, a cracked or displaced drain beneath or beside an extension can soften clay or wash away fine soil. A CCTV drain survey usually finds it. Repairing the drain is often the first and most important step before any repair to the walls.

Will my extension need underpinning?

Often not. Many separating extensions are fixed by repairing a drain, tying the junction or forming a movement joint. Underpinning is for extensions that keep dropping because their footings are too shallow or the ground beneath is poor, as shown by monitoring.

Related work in Ashford

Extension pulling away repairs near Ashford

Send photos of the extension junction at your Ashford home, inside and out, and we will give a free initial assessment and a guide price.

Next step

Send us photos of the crack or movement

A free initial assessment from your photos, then a no-obligation written quote. If an engineer, drain survey or monitoring is needed first, we say so before you spend anything.

CallGet a quote